Sheet deflector



Dec. l6, 1930.

L. 'ruFTs ETAL SHEET DEFLECTOAR v Filed Nov.v 23, 1928 2 Sheetsfsheet1'- 'i A u frs. #NDR/rw o Lao/v.

gli@ LM v ATTORNEYJ Deuil', 1930.1 L. R. TUFTS ET AL 1,734,855

' SHEET DEFLECTOR l Filed Nov. 23, 1928 2 'Shee'-Sheet 2 TIG. 4-.y

'fram vL/M f ATTORNEYQ.v

Patented Dec. 16, |'1`93o ruNiTEn-S'Txras PATENT oFFicsf vLESLEY R.TUFTS AND ANDREll OLSON,

or omo K lOIF CLEVELAND,"/OHIO, ASSIGNORS T0 THE CLEVELAND FOLDINGMACHINE COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A 'COINtPORATION ,snaar nErLEo'ronApplication led November 23, 1928. .Serial No. 321,821.

vThis invention relates to improvements in sheet deiectors, and hasreference particularly to movable defleetors adapted to be actuated bythe travel of the-sheets themselves to direct successive sheets intodifferent/courses. The invention has utility in connection witli paperhandlingy machines in which 'large sheets are eut apart and the sectionsthereof fed through themachine in single file, the deflector of thepresent invention serving to direct like sections into the same coursesfor separate stacking.

Oneof the objects of the invention'is the provision of simpleandeffective means for shifting a movable deflect-or, such means to becontrolled bythe movement of the sheets themselves'without regard totheirspacing or the time interval between Isuccessive sheets. X

Another object is-,the lprovision of'a mechanism of the characterdescribed in which force is built up to cause the travel of the vfrontedge ofthe deector across the pathof the` paper immediately after therear edge of the paper is released from?. the feeding means justbehindit, the paper sheetitself holding the deflector back from thecompletion of its shifting movemen until the reagi` edge of the sheet isfree to wiiigNvith the detlector. In this way the swinging of thedeflector iseiected before the rear edge of the sheet has'passedthe'front edge of 'the vdeflector, and the latter is -set for the next sheetno matter how closet-he spacing of the successivefsheets may be.

Another obj ect of the invention is the prol vision of means actuated bythe swinging of ashoe in one of the courses for shifting thc deflectorwithout in any way affecting the setting ofthe shoe in theothercoursefthe shoes being returned to normal position by springpressure after the travelof the' 'sheets thereover.

Other objects andfeaturespf novelty will appear as we proceed with thedescriptioniof that 'embodiment ofthe invention which, for the purposesofthe. present applicatiomwe have illustrated in theaccompanyingpdrawings, in which- O e Fig. 1 isa plan view of a portionof a sheet the line 1 -4 of Fig. 3,

-bers of a cated at 10 and 11, respectively. Between 'f have illustrateda fra lchine with its front an rear frame members drive Ttion upon theline 1--1 of Fig. 2; v Fig. 2 isa side elevational viewof th same f Fig.3 is a vertical sectional view taken sub- Y stantially on the line 3 3ofFig. 2;

ig. 4 is a vertical sectional View at right angles to Fig. 3- and takensubstantially on deflector mechanism set to direct a sheet onto theupper stacker belt; and Fig. 5 is a view similarJto Fig. 4,

showing thedeflector mechanism in position to direct a sheet onto thelower stacker belt.

Similar reference characters refer tolike` parts' throughout the views.p

In the drawings, the front and rear memstacker machine frame areindithese members 10 and 11 there are mounted two superposed endlessstacker belts l2 and 13, the upper belt 12 being supported at one endand driven by a yroller 14 and the lower belt 13,being similarlysupported and driven by'a roller 15.. The machine is 4designed to'decollect signatures of one` kind oni liver and belt 12and those ofanother kind on belt 13. The stacker oflthe present invention isintended to be positioned at the delivery end 0f a folding machine orother paper handling machine, and inthe attache drawings we ent of sucha ma'- 16 and 17 and delivery feedrollers 18 and 19,

0n thefront ends vof which are ,mounted intermeshin gears 18 and-[19',respectively. {The or the `7stacker' mechanism is to be taken frein thepaper handling machine, and for that purpose, in the present instance,we

- have pinneda gear 20 tothe roller 19inside the frame member 16,and'have mounted an idler 21 upon thestacker framemember 10v VNin.position to v meshI with the gear A20.

The `idler `.2 1 transmits power to .a pair?,-

of intermeshing gears'22 and 23 which are* *I l carried upon the forwardends of two feed: y

rolls 24 and 25, respectively. These lrolls 10,0

a fragment this view showingthe receive into the stacker mechanismthe'sheets delivered single file by the delivery rolls 18,

19 of the paper handling machine.'

Directly in the rear of the feed rolls 24 and 25, speaking withreference to the travel of paper sheets through the machine, is amovable deflector 26 which is provided at its ends with trunnions 27that have bearing in the frame members 10 and 11. The axis of thesetrunnions is in, or close to, the path of the paper sheets leaving thefeed rolls 24, 25, and the front edge 28 of the deflector is adapted toswing across that path from one side to the other thereof. The movementof the deflector into the position illustratedN in' Fig. 4 causes thenext sheet to take the upper course indicated in that figure at A, andthe movement of the detlector into the position illustrated in Fig. 5causes the next sheet totake the course indicated in the latter figureby the reference character B.

Sheets following the course indicated at A pass between a solid metalfeed roll 29 and -a feed roll 30 furnished with spaced friction discs.Those taking the course indicated at B travel between a solid metal roll31 and a roll 32 similar to the roll 30.

Near the top ofthe frame member 10 we provide a pivot pin 33 on which ismounted an adjustable bracket 34. This bracket has an extension arm 35in which isfixed a threadedrod 36 that is movable through a smoothopening in a post 37 which projects inwardly from the frame member 10. Acoil spring 38 surroundsthe rod 36 between the extension arm 35 and thepost 37, and a second coil spring 39 surrounds the rod 36 beneath thepost 37, this latter springbeing compressed more or less by an adjustingnut 40.

lThe latter nut is preferably held in adjusted position by a lock nut41.

l The bracket 34 is provided with a bearing in which ^is rotatablymounted a shaft 42, which extends beyond both ends of the bearing. Onits rear end the shaft 42 has pinned thereto a shoe 43 which, in itsnormal position indicated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. eX-

) tendsbetween rolls 29 and 30, lying within lthe spacey between twofriction ldiscs on the its outer surface to an arcA concentric with theaxis of the shaft 42, `and is adjusted by means of they nut 40 so as toliev .close to the surface of roll 29, in order that the thickness of'the sheets or folded signatures which travel between these rolls may besufiicient to cause -the swinging of the shoe.- On the forward end ofthe sliaft 42 there .ispinned a hub 44. This hub'carries two projectingarms 45. and 46.'The varm 45 has attached -thereto a tension spring 47,the opposite end ofJaLhich is secured to a pin 48`ixedly mounted in thepost 37 orfother rigid part of the machine. The spring 47 thus tendsy'to hold' position illustrated v is surrounded by a coil spring 53.Hence, the

oscillation of the shaft 42 in an anticlockwise direction, as viewed 'inFig.'2, tends to depress the pin 52 and to swing the deiector 26 on itstrunnions 27 out of the position.illus trated in that figure and in Fig.4 toward the position illustrated yin Fig. 5.

A shoe 54, similar to the shoe 43, is similarly mounted upon a shaft 55which is rotatably supported in a bracket 56 that is mounted upon apivot 57 and provided with an extension arm 58 carrying a rod 59 thatruns lfreely through a perforated lug 60'on the frame member 10, coilsprings 61 and 62 surrounding the rod 59 on opposite sides of the lug60, and nuts 63 and 64 threaded onto the free end of the rod 59 servingto regulate the compressionA of spring 62 and the consequent adjustment.of the bracket 56. TheA springs 61 and 62 assist in the adjustment ofthe shoe 54. By adjusting the nut 63 the tension of spring 62 may beincreased or decreased, which in turn will increase -or-decreasing thetension of 'spring 62 the rod 59 is moved toward the left against thepressure of spring 61, thereby drawing the extension arm 58 toward theleft and swinging the bracket 56clockwise about its center 57 to a smallextent. This decreases the clearance between shoe 54 and its cooperatingroller 31.A Movement of the nut 63lin the'opposite direction enablesspring 61 to move the shoe i 54 away from the roller 31.4 Furthermore,

spring 62 provides a 'resilient mounting for the bracket 56, so that ifany unduly thick signature attempts to pass between the shoe 54 androller 31 the spring will be compressed and will allowl the shoe 54 .tomove away from. the roller suiciently to permit the unusual thickness ofpaper to pass onthrough the machine, thereby avoiding damage due tostopping the mechanism while the power is on. It will be understood ofcourse that the springs 38 and 39 have functions identically the same asthose'of springs 61 and 62. The outer end of the shaft 55 carries onearm 65 similar to the' arm 4 6, but having attached thereto a coilspring 66 which corresponds in function with the coil s ring 47 and isattached to a pin 67 threa ed into the frame member 10 o fs'the machine.The arm 65 is connected with the ,pin 52 by a rod 66 having anadjustable headformed by nuts 68 lao - over the upper surfaceofthedeflector 26,

and having an inner end in the form of a slottedV plate 69, with asurrounding coil spring 70, all of which'parts correspond exactly inconstruction and operation with the parts 49, 50, 51 and 53, previouslydescribed. 'Onthe forward side of frame member 10 there isan idler 9meshing with gear 22 and with a gear 7l on the forward end of roll 32.The latter gear is one of a train of four gears 71, 72, 73 and 74 ontheA rolls 32,31, 29 and 30, respectively, by means of which those rollsare driven. v

The drive for the stacker belt 12 is taken off the gear 72 which mesheswith a larger gear 7 5 on the forward extremity of roller 14. The drivefor the stacker belt 13 is taken off gear 71 which meshes with supportedupon a stub shaft 77 the frame member 10, the idler 76 in turn meshingwith a .larger gear 78 on the forward extremity of 'roll`er-15.f lThebelts 12f` and 13. therefore, move at a relatively slow rate of speed,and .obviously the design of the machine can"be varied in this respectto provide anyspeed of travel of the belts 12 and 13 which may bedesired.

In Fig. 5 we have shown at A the position of a sheet next in@ advance ofthat indicated` at B, this view binginten'ded to illustrate thecondition where the forward edgev of one sheet is directly behind orpractically touching the rear edge of the preceding sheet, the shoe 43being still unreleased by the sheet A while the forward edge of theslieet'B is just about to swing the lshoe 54 upon its axis.`

Operation-Assuming th t .the various parts of the mechanism are 1nthe'positions illustrated inP Fig. 4, with a `SheetA traveling thissheet will be guided upwardly by the inclined surface of the defleetorso that its forward edge is directed into the angle between the roll 29and the shoe 43. The rolls i 29, 30 now grip the sheet and feed italong,

and in this operation the shoe 43 is swung upon its axis into theyposition illustrated in Fig. 5, where itis held-by the traveling sheetor signature against the tension of spring 47 until it is cleared by thepassage ofthe rear' edge of they sheet. The swinging of the shoe 43 fromits normal position into the position of Fig. 5 causes thelarm 46`toLpress upon-1 the' upper; end of coil spring 53)- Thereupon thelplate`51 at the lower endof rod49 is,

pressed downwardly against the pin 52 by the spring 53 tending to swingthe deflector 26 upon its trunnions 27.y The sheet A. however, whic isstill within the grip of rolls 24, 25 prevents the rear edge 28of thedeiecto'r from swinging across the path-of ther sheet. Consequently, theswinging of shoe 43 acts first to move deflector 26 sui'ciently to bringthe front edge 28 thereof .against the paper sheet A, and thereafter tobuild up pressure in the compression spring 53.

an idler 76' mounted in 'maintaining the shoe 43 in itsouter positionlswinging of the deflector' is permitted by the slot in plate 69 .on therod 66; that is to say, the pin 452y in thus moving. downwardly does nottransmit motion to the rod 66 but merely moves from the top of thel slotin .plate'69 to the bottom of that slot. f v i The .next sheet orsignatur/ev strikes .against the. lower side of deflec'tor' 26,'asindicated in Figra.' and is deflected downwardly to anextentsufiicientto direct -it between rollsy 31: and 32. The previous'sheet in the meantime travels for-ward ontof stacker belt 12,

illustrated in Fig. 5 until the yrear edge of that sheet has passedbeneath the tip of theshoe, as indicated in that ligure, whereupon thespring 47 acts to turn the shaft 42 and swing thclshoe 43. backto itsnorlnal position be- .-t-weenthe rolls. 'The sheet .B now acts lto outof the control of rolls 24 and 25, to .swing the deflector vback to itsfirst position illus.

trated in Fig; 4. After the rear edge of sheet B has passed beyondthe'tipvof shoe 54, the latter is released and thespr-ing 66 brings itback into normal posit-ion.l -Sheetl B in the meantime hasbeen'deposited upon stacker belt 13.. The cycle of operations then'repeats 105 itself. l

Although inthe present disclosure we have illustrated and described withconsiderable Vpartieularity oneppreferred embodiment .of

thefinvention. we desire it'lto be understood .110 that suchdetaileddisclosure is primarily for purposes ofillus'tration 'and -is not to beconstruedas a limitation upon the scope of the ,s

in'vention r Having tlus described. our" ,what we'claim is': Y

1. Ina paper handling ma'hine, means for causing the sheets to travelsingle file ina given path, a l'deflector for directingJ sheets fromsaid path into -either'of two different .120

. courses, a shoein each-fof said courses adaptbd to be shifted bythetravel of a sheet there- I through, means associated witheachshoe forshifting the deflecto'r when the shoe is shifted, K

ependelit means associated-with each and in l of' said shoes forreturnmg 1t to normal posi- 'tion when. not in engagementl with a sheettraveling through that eourse. 2. In a paper handling machine, means forcausing the sheets to travel single file' in a 1&9 l

l invention', 115 Y given path, a deiector for directing. sheetsl fromsaid path into either of two different courses. a shoe in each ofsaidcourses adapted tofhe shifted bythe travel of a sheetthere- 5through, means associated with each shoe for shifting the deflector whenthe shoe` is shifted, and means associated with each shoe for returningthe shoe'to normal ,position when notl -inengagcment witha sheettraveling through- 'thatcoursasaid two last named means beingindependent of each other and independent of the said defiector shiftingmeans.

' 3. In a paper handling machine, means for causing the sheets to travelsingle file in a given path, a deflector for directin sheets from `saidpath into either of two ifferent courses, a shoe in each of said coursesadapted to be'shifte'd by the travel of a sheet therethrough, meansassociated with each shoe for shifting the deiiector when the shoe isshifted, and a separate resilient means associated with each shoe forreturning it to normal position when not in engagement with a sheettraveling though that course. 4. lIn a paper handling machine, means forcausing the-sheets to travel single file in a given path, a deflectorfor directing sheets from said path into either of two differentcourses, a shoe in each of said courses adaptedY 30 to be shifted by thetravel of a sheet therethrough, means associated with each shoe forshifting .the defector when the shoe is shifted, eachof said means beingcapable of 7. In a paper handling machine, feeding means adapted` toprovide single file travel o -sheets in agiven path, means for directinsheets from-said path into either of two di ferentA courses, said meanscomprising. la pivoted shoe adapted to be swung in a givenv direction bythe travel of a sheet, a pivoted defiector oneedge of which v is adaptedto move transversely across said path, and an operative connectionbetween said shoe and deflector adapted when said shoe is shifted'tomove the said edge of the deiector against the said sheet and to buildup pressure tending to swing the deiector across air path as soon as thetravel of the sheet permits.

8. In a paper handling machine, means'for causing the .paper sheets totravel single file ',in a lgiven path, a deiiector for directing sheetsfrom said path in either of two differ-` ent courses, a shoe in each `ofsaid courses re- 85. siliently. urged toward normal -position andvadapted to be shifted therefrom by the travel of a sheet through thatcourse, and means operati-vey connecting each of sa'id shoes with saidde ector tending to shiftthe latter when either .of said shoes is sifted, said last named means including one-way connections, where-l bythe movements vof the shoes are entirely independent of each other. Lhereunto aix l LESLEY R. TUFTS.

ANDREW OLSON.y

In testimony whereof, we our slgnatures.

moving the deflector in one direction only,f

i S5 and means associated with each of said shoes for returning it tonormalfposition when not in engagement with a sheet travelingthroughthat course. f 5L In a paper handling machine, means for causing thepaper sheets to travel single file l in a given path, a deflector fordirectin sheets from said path into either of two di ferent courses, ashoe infeaeh of said courses adapted to be shifted by the travel ofa-sheet 45 therethrough, and means operatively/ asso'- for building uppressure tending to shift the deflector, whereby the deiector is shiftedas so'oln `as the rear end of the sheet traveling over its surface isfree to movewith the deflector, f

6. Inv a paper handliiigslmachinmgfeedin means adapted to provide 'nglele travel o sheets, means for directing sheets received from said4feeding means 4into either of two different courses, said meansIcomprising a pivoted shoe adapted to beswung' in a given direction bythe travel of a sheet, amovabley defiector, and an operative connection,be-

tween said shoe and deflector adapted to build up pressure tending' toshift the def` iector,.whereby thedeiiectoris shifted as soon as therear edge of the sheet traveling over its surface is -free to move withvthe de- 55 ector.

ciated with each shoe and with the'deilector'

